Hydrogen Gas Purifiers for
Fuel Cells
H a n n o ve r ‐ A p r i l 1 3 , 2 0 1 5
M a rco S u c c i
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Outline
Short introduction to Saes Pure Gas, Inc.
Technologies for the purification of hydrogen
Purifiers for Fuel Cells
Conclusions
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SAES Pure Gas, Inc.
Leveraging the unique competence of gas impurity sorption and gas purification equipment design, SAES Pure Gas is the world leader in gas purification technologies. SAES has the largest offering of equipment solutions to purify all gases for the manufacturing of silicon based semiconductor devices, LEDs, fiber optics, LCDs and OLEDs (display industry), and photovoltaic devices.
Point of Use
Customer Service
MegaTorr
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Pure Gas Handling
BULK GAS PURIFIERS
POINT OF USE
AMC ANALYSIS
Main applications
Main applications
Large volume gas handling for industrial uses:
 Silicon Semiconductor
 Flat Panel Displays
 LED
 Power Devices
 Zero Air for Car Exhaust Analysis
Gas handling next to the process chamber for:
 Chemical Vapor Deposition
 Epitaxial Growth
 Etching
 Metallization
 Photolithography
 Emerging Technology (Fuel Cells, Solar, Diamond Thin Films etc.)
 Pressurized Gases (N₂, CDA, etc.)
 Ambient Air/Cleanroom monitoring
CUSTOMER SERVICE
Main applications
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Technologies for Hydrogen Purification
The most common technologies for H2 purification:
PSA (Pressure Swing Absorption)
Membrane (non precious metal)
Electrochemical purification and compression
Adsorber Purifiers
Regenerable Adsorber Purifiers
Getter Based Purifiers
Palladium Purifiers
Cryogenic Separation
LED
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SAES Technologies for H2 Purification
Adsorber
Regenerable Adsorber
Getter
Palladium Membrane
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Adsorber Technology
Total flexibility in size and configuration
Flow rates up to 2,000 slpm
Pressure ratings up to 200 bar
Low pressure drop
Minimal cost of ownership
Regenerable offline
Automated Microprocessor Controller Continuous purification
Compact
Low power consumption
System Alarms
H2 Leak Detection Sensor Vented Cabinet Purge
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Adsorber Technology
Removes the following impurities: O2, H2O, CO, CO2, NH3, sulfur compounds and some hydrocarbons
Transparent to N2, CH4, and rare gases
Inlet gas purity: 3N or better
Available for flow rates up to 1000 m3/h
Low pressure drop
Typical lifetime of the adsorber column: 1‐3 years
Regenerable offline (no waste of H2 on site) or inline
Works at room temperature
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Adsorber Purifier Typical Purity Levels
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Hydrogen Purification
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Removal of Different O2 and H2O Concentrations
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CO Removal
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Ammonia Removal
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Sulphur Compound Removal
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Purifier
Specifications
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Palladium Membranes – How They Work
Palladium (Pd) purifies by dissolving the H2 into the Pd membrane. The
partial pressure across the membrane ‘pushes’ the H2 through the
membrane. No other gas can pass through Pd.
Purifiers operate
between 380 and 410 degrees C.
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Palladium Technology
All impurities (non‐hydrogen species) are removed – including oxygen, carbons, nitrogen, organics, inorganics and inert gases (Ar, He, etc.)
Only allows hydrogen molecules to pass through to the outlet
Inlet gas purity: 3N or even lower grade
Available for flow rates up to 110 m3/h
High pressure drop
Operate at high temperature
Unlimited lifetime – no regeneration or replacement due to consumable components
About 2‐3% of the incoming H2 is lost to purge out the impurities
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Palladium Technology
One Cell design
Maximum Flow:
1 – 700 slpm (1‐42 Nm3/hr) With 20 bar in/8 bar out
Over 25 sizes of cells available
Two Cell design
Maximum Flow:
1 – 1,400 slpm (1‐84 Nm3/hr) With 20 bar in/8 bar out
Over 25 sizes of cells available
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Palladium Purifier Typical Purity Levels
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Palladium Purifier Typical Purity Levels
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Application of SPG Hydrogen Purifiers for use with FC
High capacity sulphur removal purifiers for hydrogen and natural gas can protect Fuel Cells when the inlet sulphur content is in the range of 10‐20 ppm CO, H2O and other impurity removal to supply clean H2 to the Fuel Cell Pd purifiers to reduce impurity concentration(s) from thousands of ppm, N2 included, to low ppb level
Under development a low cost solution to remove high concentration(s) of impurities, up to 20%‐30% in H2
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Why Install a Gas Purifier?
They protect the Fuel Cell stack from poor quality batches of hydrogen
They ensure that a consistent quality of hydrogen supplied to the Fuel Cell Stack
Purification improves the quality of hydrogen
Decay or lifetime depend on H2 purity? making innovation happen, together
Conclusions
Existing technologies for H2 purification are capable of complying with the target set by ISO14687 for FC applications.
Gas purification should be integrated into the H2 supply chain to guarantee stable and reliable H2 purity.
Dedicated purifiers can be designed to seamlessly integrate with the H2 distribution chain.
Gas purifiers can easily provide consistent H2 purity at the low levels needed for fuel cell applications.
Cooperation between the various providers involved in the H2
supply chain is essential to minimize the H2 delivery costs at the required purity levels.
SAES is available to study the impact of hydrogen and/or air purity on FC performance.
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Thank you for your attention
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